asked the Postmaster-General what is the cause of the delay in carrying out the 1908 revision in the sort- ing office, Dublin; is he aware that a difficulty has arisen on account of the refusal of the London authorities to sanction the number of superior appointments applied for; and will he see that the recommendations of the local authorities, who must of necessity know the requirements of the office, are carried out?

The revision, which is somewhat complicated, will be completed as soon as circumstances permit. It is my intention to satisfy myself that the superior appointments are fixed in accordance with the requirements of the Service.

asked the Postmaster-General why the senior superintendent of the sorting office in Dublin has been superseded for two years by his junior when the duty of the chief superintendent had to be performed; is the senior superintendent capable of performing the chief superintendent's duty; and, if so, will he see that he is afforded an opportunity of doing so in future?

There has been no such supersession at Dublin as the hon. Member describes. T may say, (however, that it is quite proper to employ a junior officer occasionally as substitute in preference to a senior, in order to test the qualifications of the junior officer.

asked the Postmaster-General if he can state whether the plans for the additional Post Office buildings at Belfast have been completed; and whether, in the preparation of these plans, due consideration has been given to the lack of retiring room and cycle accommodation in the present building?

The plans have been completed, and suitable arrangements have been made for retiring rooms. It is not the practice to incur expenditure for providing accommodation for private bicycles; but, where space is available, its use is readily conceded to the staff when this can be done without expense or inconvenience, and on the understanding that the space must be vacated when it is required for any other purpose.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any statistics are available showing the number of outbreaks of and the number of animals affected with rinderpest, red water, and African horse sickness in British South Africa for each year since 1901; and what are the recognised methods adopted by the Government authorities in dealing with each of these epizootics respectively?

The information does not, so far as I am aware, exist in any collected form, though it is probably contained in the various annual and other Reports of the different South African Administrations. A Conference on diseases amongst cattle and other animals in South Africa sat in December, 1903, and made recommendations with regard to the means best suited for stamping out disease, and an Inter colonial Veterinary Conference was held in March, 1907. I shall be happy to show my hon. Friend the Reports of the Conferences and legislation in force.

asked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he can state to what extent, if at all, the wireless telegraphy installation on the Lord Warden Hotel at Dover, in connection with the Channel flight by foreigners, interfered with the naval wireless shore and floating installations at Dover and its vicinity?

The installation on the Lord Warden Hotel has not interfered at all with naval wireless telegraphy at Dover.

asked the Chief Secretary for Ireland if he can state the number of purchase agreements lodged with the Estates Commissioners since 1st March last, and the amount of purchase money which they represent; whether such agreements are entered into on the basis that the tenant is to pay an annuity at the rate of 3¼ per cent.; and how such agreements will be dealt with when the Land Bill passes into law?

From 1st March last up to the 21st inst., 4,484 purchase agreements in cases of direct sales by landlords to tenants, representing a purchase money of £1,052,834, were lodged with the Estates Commissioners. The annuities set out in the applications of the tenants for advances are calculated at the rate of 3¼ per cent. I am not prepared at present to make a statement as to the manner in which it is intended to deal with these cases, but the matter will, I hope, be settled before the recommittal stage of the Land Bill.

asked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been called to those cases pending in the Land Judge's Court in which the judge has approved of terms of sale to the tenants on the basis of a 3¼ per cent. annuity, and agreed to accept rent at the interest rate pending the sale, and a request has issued under Section 7 of the Act of 1903, but in which purchase agreements have not been signed owing to the delay in the Estates Commissioners' office in having the lands inspected; and whether he will consider the advisability of including such cases as pending agreements in Clause 12 of the Land Bill?

I understand that there are a number of cases pending in the Land Judge's Court the circumstances of which are as stated. The point raised in the last paragraph of the question will be considered between this and the recommittal stage of the Bill.

asked the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether the portion of The Poor Afflicted Relief (Ireland) Act, 1878, in which provision is made for any destitute deaf and dumb or blind person over the age of 13 years is held to repeal The Poor Relief (Ireland) Act, 1843; and, if so, whether the approval of the Local Government Board is required under the Act of 1878?

Section 3 of The Poor Afflicted Persons Relief (Ireland) Act, 1878, does not repeal the provisions of Section 14 of the Act of 1843 (6 and 7 Vict., cap. 92). The section of the Act of 1843 provides only for the sending to and maintenance in an institution approved by the Board of deaf and dumb or blind children under the age of 18. The Section of the Act of 1878 provides for the sending to and maintenance in a hospital or institution of any pauper above the age of 18 being blind or deaf and dumb; no approval or consent on the part of the Local Government Board is necessary, but the cost of the reception, maintenance, and instruction must not exceed five shillings weekly in the case of any one such pauper.